A lighthouse along the shores of Lake Michigan has been dramatically transformed into what some are calling an “ice monster,” as thick layers of ice coated the historic structure. Photographer Nathan Voytovick of Nate’s Dronography captured stunning images and drone footage of the St. Joseph Lighthouse, revealing the surreal effect created by freezing waves and subzero temperatures.

The extreme weather, with winds reaching up to 40 mph and air temperatures near -10°F, caused rapid ice accretion. Supercooled water droplets from Lake Michigan froze immediately upon contact with the lighthouse, enveloping it in layers of ice and forming towering icicles along its pier. Such conditions are a recurring hazard for Great Lakes structures; similar episodes have closed landmarks like Split Rock Lighthouse during the severe winter of 2019.

The icy transformation of the St. Joseph Lighthouse highlights both the raw power of nature and the visual spectacle it can produce. Nathan Voytovick’s footage offers a rare glimpse of the lighthouse in its frozen state, turning a familiar navigational beacon into an otherworldly scene that is both beautiful and formidable.

As temperatures continue to remain frigid in parts of Michigan, authorities caution residents and visitors to exercise care near waterfronts, where ice formations can become unstable and dangerous.